It had taken a couple hours for Ratchet to fix Optimus's arm. In the time, Optimus could only think of Saphira. His mind could not think of anything else. While he could see the devastation of a burning city around him, and he was sorry that so many people had to be put in danger, but his processor could only focus on his sparkmate and sparkling. Lennox did inform Optimus that Saphira had arrived at the base, and had been taken in for surgery. Optimus had no idea why she needed surgery, but he did not see the full state of Saphira's body. He saw her wrapped up, and he felt only the pain she was feeling. But Ratchet did tell him that he knew she would need surgery. Megatron had probably caused a lot of tearing within her birthing canal, and it needed repair. Optimus hoped that her womb was not torn as well.

He was informed that Mearing was on her way to the nearby NEST base as well. She was likely coming to speak with the autobots, given that the autobots faked their deaths. And she would be there to likely learn about what happened with Saphira and anything else that happened in the city itself. Optimus did not care that she was coming. He knew it was important for the woman to do her job, so it mattered little to him she was on her way.

When his arm was fixed, Optimus left the city with the autobots. The autobots had remained to give some assistance to Lennox within the city, as they felt as though they should not leave the city stranded away. Barricade had wanted to leave after he had dealt with Dylan, but he remained after learning Saphira had been taken into surgery. He didn't particularly want to just sit and wait in the hospital to hear news about Saphira.

But now they no longer had to remain. Lennox gave them permission to be dismissed as he knew that the autobots wanted nothing more than to go to Saphira. He knew he could have let only Optimus go, but he did not want the other autobots to be upset. And they were now on their way to the NEST base so they could be beside Saphira, or at least, as close to her as they could be.

Optimus himself knew that Saphira would probably be angry at them. They did fake their deaths after all. She would want an explanation. He knee that she would probably feel more hurt knowing that she had gone into the city because she was grieving. And if she had known, she wouldn't have gone into the city. He couldn't find anyone to blame but the decepticons. If they hadn't trapped Saphira with the little decepticon on her wrist, he would have told her. But he couldn't. And now that he knew Saphira was pregnant, the sparkling would have been extremely vulnerable to the attacks from that small decepticon too.

He did not know if the sparkling had been harmed either. He did block his side of the bond, and doing that also meant he blocked the natural bond he had with the sparkling. So he would have had no idea, and Optimus felt extremely guilty that he was not there for them. Especially since he now knew what lengths Saphira would go in her grief. Though he knew he should have known. Saphira was grieving when she saved him with the Matrix…so extremes seemed to be normal to Saphira.

However, another thing that hurt was that Saphira told him that she had no one else in her life that she could turn to. Hearing her say that before they faked their death hurt. It showed there was a part of Saphira that was hurting over the fact that her parents had disowned her. She had yearned for a family, and she found one with the autobots. So it elevated that feeling of grief in Saphira, and it made her not think straight.

When they finally arrived at the NEST base, they make their way over to the hospital. As they stop, all the autobots form their holoforms and prepare to head inside. However, Optimus did not. Ratchet noticed straight away as he was about to run into the hospital. He was a little confused as he looked as the peterbilt with a frown. He then worried that Optimus's holoform system was damaged.

Ratchet ended up transforming while his holoform stood by. The autobots stopped themselves from going into the hospital upon realizing this as well. "Don't tell I missed the damage to your holoform system when I was repairing your arm, Optimus," Ratchet said with a frown. "You might as well let me have a look so…"

"My holoform system is fine, Ratchet." The medic looked at him in surprise at his response. "I am…just not sure." Ratchet tilts his head and listened to his old friend. "I honestly feel responsible for Saphira's choice in walking into that city. I know we had to do what we did to make the world believe we had gone, but I cannot get out of my head the pain that I feel from her. And seeing her in Lennox's arms that way…I feel it is my fault. Even if I also blame the decepticons."

Ratchet listened to him quietly and processed what his leader was saying. "I honestly don't think any of us could have predicted what Saphira's actions would be after faking our deaths, Optimus. I think it is true that Saphira had not been thinking straight. But we should not be the ones to blame for that."

"I agree with Ratchet." Barricade transformed and stood up, looking at Optimus sadly. "Not one of us knew she would do that. Sentinel Prime and Megatron are the ones to blame. They forced this upon us, and we made the decision to go along with the request, only to ensure we did not die in that ship."

"You should not blame yourself, Optimus." Ratchet placed his hand on the roof of the truck. "Saphira will be angry at us, I can guarantee it. She will not understand at first, but we need to give her time. She has not just been physical harmed." Optimus was fully aware of that. But he did not know if he could stop blaming himself. Not right now. "She needs you more than before. She needs us. Our support and love will help her heal, Optimus."

Optimus listened to Ratchet, even though his spark was still hurting. "I do not know if I can stop feeling guilty, Ratchet. I failed to protect her. That is hurting me the most." He began to transform, and Ratchet pulled his hand back to give him room. Once he was fully transformed, Optimus looked at the hospital for a moment before he looked at Ratchet. "When we bonded, Ratchet, I promised her I would protect her. I almost feel like I have failed that vow."

"I am sure it feels that way." Ratchet smiled at him, placing his hand on Optimus's shoulder. "But you did protect her by killing Sentinel Prime and Megatron. They cannot hurt her anymore. She is free from them, just like you are."

Ironhide had transformed as well, and he saw standing by Optimus while he listened. "I agree, Optimus. Maybe it was not our finest, smartest decision now that this has happened. But we did it to ensure that our home on this world is safe. And to ensure that Saphira is safe." Optimus looked at his old friend as the weapons specialist spoke to him. "Saphira is strong. She might be hurt now, but with time, I am sure she will understand. She walked into the city with the same love she still has for you. You did not fail her."

"And what about the sparkling?" Optimus looked at Ratchet. "When I first felt the bond with the sparkling, it felt different. It was like it was strained, and so small. But now, I don't know if I can feel it." Ratchet widened his optics for a moment before softening them. "I can't help but feel I have failed that sparkling. I do not know how long Saphira has known about it, but given the time…my sparkling would have been at least just over a month along." Ratchet nodded as he could agree with the growth stage of the sparkling. "Megatron tore Saphira's body…I fear…he did the same to my sparkling."

Ratchet did not say anything at first to him. He intakes heavily and smiled at him. "You did not fail your sparkling either. And we won't know the status of the sparkling until we speak to one of the doctors who performed the surgery on her." Optimus looked at the building again. He was worried about what he might learn. "Come, Optimus. You know Saphira will recover faster when she is closer to you."

"My holoform doesn't provide that, Ratchet. You know that." Optimus transformed back into the peterbilt and his door opened with his holoform stepping out. His holoform appeared to be tired, and his shoulder had a new scar due to what Sentinel had done before. He watched Barricade, Ironhide and Ratchet transform back into their vehicle modes before he approached their holoforms. "However, I definitely do not want Saphira to be alone. I hope she is no longer in surgery, and she is currently recovering from her injuries and surgery."

"I believe she is, Optimus. But we won't know until we go inside." Ratchet walked towards the doors and looked back at Optimus. Optimus walked towards the doors with concern written all over his face. "Let's find what ward number she is in."

They all walk through the entrance of the hospital and made their way over to the reception to find where Saphira was. They were told that Saphira was out of surgery now, and she had been brought to a private ward for recovery. The autobots were the room number and floor that Saphira was on, and they proceed further into the hospital to go up to the right floor and locate her room.

None of them really knew what they should expect. Except for Ratchet. He was expecting to see Saphira sleeping on the hospital bed with an IV attached to her, oxygen tubes in her nose and possibly, a heart monitor. But if she had no fatal injuries, the heart monitor might be stretch. But at least the IV fluid bag and oxygen tubes were most definitely something for them to see attached to Saphira.

It took a few minutes before they finally found Saphira's room. Optimus hesitated for a moment when he reached for the door, but that did not last long. He grabbed the door knob and turned it gently, pushing the door open and his optics fell upon Saphira. His expression softened and his spark ached as he saw her. Saphira was asleep in the hospital bed with several blankets laying over her body. She appeared to be wear a hospital robe at the moment, though it was hard to tell.

She had an IV fluid attached to her arm and an oxygen mask on her face. Ratchet expected her to have oxygen tubes in her nose, but it seemed like she did not need them currently. She did not have a heart monitor attached to her, which was a good sign. But that really did not change anything to Optimus. Seeing her like this hurt. She might be healing now, but the physical wounds were only the beginning.

Optimus walked over to the side of the bed, looking down at Saphira. Bumblebee let out some sniffles as he was also hurting. He saw Saphira like a little sister, and he felt like he couldn't be like a big brother right now. He could only think of what he could do now to try and make her feel better when she wakes up. He considered getting her gifts, but he didn't know if she would even want to see them.

Ratchet picked up the note board at the end of the bed to read over the notes. He was lucky he had learned about human medicine that he fully understood the different medical terms. He just wanted to know what exactly the doctors have done, and to know if the sparkling was still alive. Though he intended on waiting for the doctor to come in and speak to them about it, as he knew that it would be better since Ratchet was not the one who has treated her.

Optimus gently moved a strand of hair from Saphira's face and ran his fingers along her cheek gently. She looked so peaceful right now. And she was still so beautiful. Optimus clenched his jaw for a moment before he leaned down and kissed her forehead gently. "I am so sorry, Saphira. I…this is wrong. And I wish that we had thought of a different plan that didn't cause you to go into the city. You have been wronged so much…I am so sorry." He gently lowered himself to his knees and grabbed Saphira's hand gently, looking at her as he watched her chest rise and fall gently. "I will never forget yesterday…having to tell you that we were leaving and never coming back…it was the hardest thing for me to say. And now I feel responsible for this." He looked at her stomach as he was still hopeful the sparkling was alive. "I do not know if our sparkling is alive. Even if it was…I worry that the damage to your womb is too great." He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it gently. "Whatever it takes, Saphira, I will make sure you know you will not be alone again."

Barricade nodded as he grabbed a seat and moved it closer to sit by the bed, looking at Saphira with sad eyes. "I stand by with Optimus. We all almost died saving you. But it was well worth it." He looked over at Optimus and smiled at him. "I don't know if I have shown my thanks, Optimus." Prime looked at him when he was addressed. "If I have, I am not sure if I can show my gratitude enough for you giving me a chance to prove myself as an autobot. I wear that badge with honor now. I know now what it is like to have a family…and not to feel hatred and anger to everything around me. That is why I know…" Barricade glanced at Saphira for a moment before he looked away, clenching his optics sadly. "That is why I know that I am glad that you and Saphira allowed me in. All I ever want is for Saphira to be happy. It hurts knowing that she is in this state. And unfortunately, because of my experience as a decepticon, I knew that Megatron never felt love…or it was a twisted version of love for Saphira."

Optimus listened to Barricade quietly and he smiled gently at Barricade. "You have proven more than once that you are gracious for this opportunity. I do believe that everyone has the ability to change. Even decepticons. Unfortunately, I cannot extend that hope and belief to some…and Megatron has proven that." He looked back at Saphira was he caressed her forehead gently with his thumb. "I just…Sentinel never liked Saphira. I don't think I can tell her that."

"Is that what he said?" Ironhide asked in surprise, and Optimus nodded. "Really? That…that fool acted like he liked and respected Saphira. Unless he was just venting in anger." Optimus could not really answer that now since Sentinel was dead. Ironhide looked at Saphira before he huffed. "I am going to have to make her a new weapon to carry around with her."

"And have her lose them?" Wheelie asked as he and Brains had climbed onto a nearby table, and were watching curiously. "Saphira lost the last couple you gave her. Though they did get destroyed, or there was that bracelet you gave her, and she apparently lost it in a river or something. I don't know."

Ironhide did not need too worried about that. "She needs something with her. I do not know what the humans are going to do about us, given what has happened to one of their cities. So she needs something. I will make sure to design it, even if I have to make a couple."

Optimus did not object to Ironhide making new weapons for Saphira to carry around. He actually thought that it would be a good idea. At least that way she would have a weapon strong enough to kill a decepticon if she needed to use it, and possibly a way for her to signal the autobots her location. Optimus did not want to have to go through with not knowing with what is happening to her again. He could not bear it a second time.

"Do you think the government will let Saphira off the hook like that had done before?" Sideswipe asked curiously, and Optimus could not really give an answer. "I am kind of hoping for that. And maybe we will be off the hook as well."

"I would not count on it, Sideswipe. We were involved with the battle of Chicago. While we did not destroy the city itself, the humans might see the falsifying of our deaths to be a result of the city's destruction." Ratchet finished reading through the file, grimacing with sadness as he put it down. "I know we will likely be watched closely for the time being, but I cannot see that the government will be as kind to us as they were before."

Dino scoffed in irritation at him. "Yeah, just like when they thought about handing Saphira over to the Fallen!" He did not want to believe they would be completely controlled by the humans again, but he also knew that this was not their native planet. "But I guess we have no choice but to lay low for now. I am honestly done with fighting anyway."

"I could not agree more," Bumblebee said in agreement as he took a seat, looking at Saphira with sad eyes. "Aw, man…I hope my little sister will be okay." He looked at Optimus as he saw him kiss the back of Saphira's hand again, making Bee smile slightly at him. "I am sure Saphira knows you still love her."

"I know…but I do think she might have looked at me before and thought I was a dream." Optimus had no doubt that she thought that way. "I guess I can't blame her for that. I can't blame her for that at all." Optimus looked at her face with a slight smile. "But I hope she will wake up, and it will make her happy. Even though I know she has a lot of questions."

Leadfoot looked at the folder in the slot at the end of the bed and looked at Ratchet. He could see Ratchet's sad expression. "So what was in the folder, doc?" The medic looked at him in surprise before he shook his head. "Aw, come on! You aren't gonna tell us what you read in that file? That is not fair!"

"I'm going to leave it for the doctor," Ratchet responded to the wrecker gently. "I believe the explanation from them will…will be better than from me." He gazed at Saphira with sad optics and intakes heavily. "Just know that Saphira will be okay. She will heal, it just may take some time before she can be intimate with you again, Optimus."

"I do not care about that. I only want to know that she is okay, and that she can heal to the point nothing happened." Optimus kissed the back of her hand again and looked at Ratchet. "I will wait until the human doctor comes in to tell us more about what has happened to Saphira. I know you know about human medicine…but I will hear it from the human doctor."

Ratchet was pleased that he was not being pressured by Optimus and the autobots about what he knows. And Ratchet honestly did not know if he had it in his spark to tell Optimus what he has learned. It was hurting him knowing what he has read about what has happened to Saphira. And as much as he wanted to tell Optimus, he knew that he would not be able to do it without feeling emotion. That is why having a human doctor tell him what has gone on with Saphira's body would be better. They would not have the emotional connection he had with Saphira.

Optimus remained by Saphira's bedside, holding her hand and caressing her forehead. He knew she was unlikely to wake up at the moment. Her body needed time to heal from such a traumatic experience. He hoped that he might be able to help her forget what Megatron has done to her. But he did not know if he could truly remove that pain from her. He would be there for her through her nightmares that she will inevitably have. And he would make sure she knew she was still loved.

Optimus stood up when the door of the ward opened, and a middle-aged doctor walked in. He saw the autobots standing in the room, and he was a little surprised by seeing that many holoforms in the room. But he just adjusted his glasses and looked over at Optimus with his hazel eyes. "I guess you are all here for Saphira Dawn, right?" Optimus nodded affirmatively as the doctor walked over to the end of the bed. "Well, Lennox informed me that I am allowed to give you the information we have about Saphira's injuries."

"How bad are they?" Optimus asked as the doctor picked up the note board and began to go through the pages. "Are they permanent?"

The doctor shook his head. "You don't need to worry so much about that, Optimus. Saphira's injuries are not as severe as you might think, but Lennox and Robert were able to get to her before the injuries did turn life threatening." Optimus looked down at Saphira for a moment before looking at the doctor. "My name is Doctor Liam, just to let you know. I was the one in charge of performing the surgery on the girl when she was brought in."

"Why did you need to even perform the surgery, Dr Liam?" Brains asked the man curiously with a concerned expression. "I don't see any bandages on her limbs, so I guess it much be her stomach or something."

Doctor Liam was a little unnerved by the scrap bots sitting on the table near the bed, but he responded to the question anyway. "Well…Saphira has sustained minor cuts from glass on her back and shoulders. They were easy enough to deal with. But she has almost received deep cuts to her face and body, most likely due to the person who attacked her." The man made no mention of Megatron, even though he knew it was Megatron, as he did not want to make the autobots further upset. "She does have swelling that is now going down on her cheek. Luckily it wasn't busted, so that will heal fine. But honestly, her external injures were not our concern. As I am sure you are aware, Saphira was sexually violated violently."

Ironhide nodded quickly. "We are definitely aware of that, doc. Please don't dance around what we want to know. We want to know the whole truth."

The man nodded as he understood. "Saphira has seem very large bruising around her inner thighs and around her rear. Thankfully, there are no damaged tendons. But when she was violated, there was no lubrication used to make it easier. And even if it was used, I don't think it would make a difference." Optimus kept his full attention on the doctor as he listened to him. "Her birth canal has been shredded. It is almost similar, maybe worse, then what happens to women when they give birth. There were multiple wound openings that had needed to be stitched. She was lucky we did not need to do some repair laser surgery to her bikini area." Optimus grimaced as he thought just how rough Megatron would have been with Saphira. Especially as Optimus had felt the pain she was feeling through the bond. He really felt so sorry for her. "The cervix to her womb was also damaged. It wasn't torn, thankfully, but there was some damage to her uterus that had to be dealt with. But she will be able to have children, so that is okay."

Optimus frowned at the doctor. "Wait, you repaired something in her womb? But she's pregnant." The doctor stiffened a little as Optimus responded to him in confusion. "If you did that, you might have done harm to the sparkling."

Ratchet turned his head away, looking down at the ground as he knew what was about to be said. Liam softened his expression to show sympathy. "I won't deny that Saphira's body showed signs that she was pregnant." Optimus widened his optics slightly as he listened to him. "However…her uterus would not have been able to support the child in the state it is in currently. But I am afraid that does not matter. She was pregnant, but…the perpetrator was too rough. There was no sign of any embryo within her womb, which means her body has already expelled the matter."

Optimus could not believe his ears. He did not want to believe it. "You…you are telling me…" He glanced at Ratchet as he saw the medic nodding while he looked at the ground in defeat. "You are telling me that Megatron…he killed my sparkling?"

Liam nodded slowly. "It would seem so. And I am sorry. With no physical trace of the sparkling itself, we won't be able to tell you how far along she would have been, though I guess you might already know." Optimus looked at Saphira as he felt immense guilt and pain wash over him, knowing that they had lost their sparkling. "I am terribly sorry. This is one of the worst ways to lose a child." Optimus nodded in agreement as he fell back to his knees by the bed, taking Saphira's hand again gently. "Saphira will be kept here so we can ensure the stitches within her heal. She'll be able to leave in about a month roughly. And give her at least eight to ten months to fully heal. She will be able to have children again, but I don't expect it to be soon." Optimus would not force that upon her, especially after this. "Again, I am sorry. I know you wanted good news about your child, but I am afraid that the assault on her was too much for the unborn child to survive."

Optimus had no words to say. He did not know what to say. Now that he knew what happened to his sparkling, and what Megatron had done to Saphira, it made him angry. But now nothing more could be done. They defeated Megatron and Sentinel, and now they had the long task of waiting for Saphira to heal. And the task of telling her that the sparkling was gone. Optimus knew she was going to break down even more. Especially after she believed her and the autobots were dead. Ratchet thanked the doctor before Liam left the room, leaving the autobots alone.

Optimus leaned over the bed, kissing her forehead and rests his chin on the pillow so he could whisper into her ear. "I am so sorry, Saphira. I failed both of you…I failed because we have lost our first sparkling. I was not there for you when you needed me the most…I promise, on my spark, that I am going to find a way to make it up to you. Even if it takes my whole existence to make it up you." He kissed her forehead gently again. "I love you, little gem. I always will. I will be here when you wake, I promise."